Centenary of Birth: Ven. Fr. Gallo

Next January 11, the 100 year birthday anniversary of Venerable Fr. Antonio Vincenzo Gallo, a Dehonian oblate of the Sacred Heart, will occur.

To celebrate the occasion, plans call for a solemn concelebration on 10 January, 1999 at the Basilica of Cristo Re (Rome III) presided over by the North Italian provincial, Fr. Luigi Mostarda. This will be followed by a pilgrimage to Monteforte Irpino where Fr. Gallo was born. On 18 April, a solemn celebration will be presided over by Mgr. Antonio Forte, Bishop of Avellino. Finally, again a solemn concelebration at Cristo Re with the superior general as the chief celebrant.

Plans also call for publications in the form of newsletters and reviews from the two Italian provinces (IM and IS), radio and TV transmissions, a public lecture at Cristo Re, and a special issue on the life of the Venerable Gallo.

Fr. Antonio Gallo entered the Congregation via the usual houses of formation and was professed on Feb. 29, 1921. Becoming seriously ill, he thought his priestly vocation was threatened. Having minor orders, he had to return to his home place where he was ordained by the bishop of Avellino on 14 December, 1930. He immediately sought a transfer to Rome and was admitted as an SCJ oblate in the parish and community of Cristo Re. Serving as a parish assistant, he lived only 3 more years. At his death on 2 May, 1934, only 35 years old, he was already considered a "saint". His cause was begun in 1953 and ended on 9 April, 1990 with the proclamation of his heroic virtues.

Umbrales (AU) Sponsors Ecumenical Seminar

Umbrales, a publication of the AU province together with SEDHU (Servicio Ecuménico para la Dignidad Humana), organized a seminar on the theme: "What the Spirit is Saying to the Churches at Dawning of the Third Millennium" to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Declaration on Human Rights. Its purpose was to dialog and seek answers to the challenges presented to the Churches in the arena of the promotion of the dignity of individuals.

Umbrales' editorial policy is directed to pastoral workers; its purpose is to "form by informing" within the pastoral orientation of the Latin American Church. Its subscription list is 7,500 strong and is much in evidence on local radio programming, youth conventions, and adult catechesis. Each issue, beyond offering select information, treats a central yet current topic and includes a pastoral supplement to provide assistance with adult catechesis, liturgy, church documentation.

This is not the first instance where Umbrales has sponsored a seminar. It promotes one every year to bring its readers and writers together. Here are some earlier seminar themes: "Communications in Time of Crisis", "Communication and Liturgy", "The Phenomenon of Communication and the New Evangelism", "Translating History into Word of Hope and Acts of Love", "Christian Communication in a Pluralist World", "New Communications Technology: A Challenge for Christian Communicators", "The Face of Jesus at the Cinema".

In putting these seminars together, Umbrales has often sought collaboration with other social or ecclesial organizations in Argentina or Uruguay.

This year's seminar, which took place this past September in Uruguay, was intended to be part of the Jubilee effort; hence the treatment of the Holy Spirit from the aspect of ecumenism. In attendance one could find the principal Christian churches of Uruguay. Besides the current and retired archbishops of Montevideo, there were two pastors from the Methodist Church, the Director of ONG, Vida y Educación, a group that works on behalf of street children, the director of SEDHU, the president of the Federation of Evangelical churches in Uruguay, the pastor of the Evangelical church of Rio de la Plata, and the Moderator of the Waldensian church along with some representatives.

There were three major issues: poverty, human rights, and ecumenism. Faced with poverty, economic marginalism, and the denial of human rights, the only Christian alternative is an option for the poor and solidarity with the outcasts.

The seminar had a festive tone aided by the participation of ecumenical choirs, whose repertoire ranged from classical Gregorian hymns to religious tangos from the Evangelical churches.

Seminar participants indicated that only through concrete actions taken in solidarity to deal with these particular problems could one hope to establish a new Christian ecumenism which moves from good intention and talk to visible witness to what the Spirit is saying to the churches as we examine together the Spirit's presence in history.

Regional SCJ Planning: Latin America

Since 1972 the provincial and regional SCJ superiors of Latin America have been meeting almost yearly to exchange views about life in their provinces and regions. Since that period, besides these meetings which the major superiors organized, other kinds of meetings have also taken place in the various sectors (vocations ministry, formation, commission meetings for Spirituality and Apostolate, Justice and Peace, Missions, etc.). In this fashion, each has shared with the rest what has taken place in the separate annual assemblies and other gatherings which have taken place in the respective constituencies.

From simple exchange, a transition was made to collaboration which till now was illustrated by these initiatives: Latin American novitiate at Maciel, interprovince preparation for perpetual vows lasting 40 days, study seminars on topics of interest to Dehonians only or of common interest like the one in 1988 "Be with the People" or that being planned for 2000 on the inculturation of our charism.

The example shown by the authorities and religious confreres has led the lay Dehonians to become organized at the Latino-American level and to hold assemblies at this level periodically.

When the General Administration met with the SCJ Major Superiors in Rome at the beginning of November, the Latin Americans used the occasion to meet on 31 October to exchange topics of mutual interest and to evaluate how affairs already under way were proceeding. At that meeting, they also examined the possibility of creating a "prophetic community" in Latin America by looking at three alternatives: Uruguay, Ecuador, and Mato Grosso. Their preference was for Uruguay. They also engaged in planning 13 common activities for the period 1999-2000: among them, the international meeting for the vocations apostolate, the international meeting for animators of missionary spirit and activity (cosponsored by the General Administration) which will be held in 1999 on the occasion of the 6th Latin American Congress on Missions, a seminar in the year 2000 on the inculturation of our charism, an Assembly on Justice and Peace in January, 2000 to prepare for the General Conference, and a gathering of young SCJ religious in 2002.

These common activities are indeed fruit of the spirit of "We, the Congregation: In Service to the Mission" and are intended to foster a great sense of communion, participation, and involvement down a road which the Latin American church and consecrated life have taken as well.